> I don't know if this counts for anything, but HMOs in Texas were
> covering (at 100% coverage) acupuncture treatments for stopping smoking,
> at least a few years ago.
> The wily accountants at the insurance companies, at least, were
> convinced that the long-term results gained via the treatments were
> worth the initial outlay for their HMO clients who smoked.
It can make good financial sense for insurance companies to cover
known placebos. Their interest is not furthering the cause of
science and medicine--their interest is in keeping their customers
paying the premiums. If accupuncture keeps a customer happy, and
if its placebo affect helps em stop smoking and further reduce the
company's risk, they'd be smart to pay for it.
-- Lee Daniel Crocker <lee@piclab.com> <http://www.piclab.com/lee/> "All inventions or works of authorship original to me, herein and past, are placed irrevocably in the public domain, and may be used or modified for any purpose, without permission, attribution, or notification."--LDC
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